Bristol Rovers Vs Chesterfield, Memorial Stadium, Bristol, Sky Bet League 2, Saturday 26th October 2013, Kick Off 3:00pm please log in to view this image VS please log in to view this image
i been predicting a rovers win a lot on these threads. never works. so i will predict a chesterfield win and hope im wrong again! im missing the game and wont be able to hear it either so im relying on someone to give do a match report pretty please
Last season's meeting was the first at the Mem for 12 years: March 2000 - Rovers 3-1 Chesterfield - Despite a dominant first half and a one man advantage, Rovers went in at half time being held at 1-1. Mark Walters opened the scoring with a long-range shot into the bottom corner, and he then came close with two free-kicks, the second coming after Steve Blatherwick had been sent off for a professional foul. Future Rovers player Ryan Williams grabbed the equaliser shortly before the break, against the run of play. Then we struggled to create chances until Jamie Cureton's shot on the turn found the net. Shortly after Vitalijs Astafjevs scored a fine goal to give us the win. And then everything began to go wrong... November 2012 - Rovers 3-2 Chesterfield - One of the few wins we achieved under Mark McGhee last season, and a very lucky one at that as Chesterfield dominated for long periods in what I believe was Paul Cook's first game in charge. Sam Togwell's own goal gave Rovers an early lead before Tendayi Darikwa fooled Neil Etheridge with a free-kick that looped towards goal. After half time, Joe Anyinsah converted a low cross from the left before loanee Brennan Dickenson arrowed a shot into the top corner on his debut to make it 2-2. However, Tom Eaves scored the decisive goal, with a deflected effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Manager on Chesterfield John Ward is hoping that football can throw up a surprise when Chesterfield visit the Memorial Stadium tomorrow. Although Chesterfield will probably be viewed as favourites for the game, the manager is hoping his side will be able to perform well with the pressure off. He said: “People will probably look at the fixture and say ‘there is a win there for Chesterfield.’ “But football is not like that, football throws up strange anomalies and strange results every now and again, so it is a game to look forward to. “They have a very experienced group of senior players, and they are only two points off the top of the table, and yet they have had four of five games where they have not been able to win themselves. “This is our home ground, and even with ten men last weekend, we gave a top ten team a tough afternoon, so we are capable of doing that, and that is something I will be pushing in to the team. “If you like the pressure is off, as the expectancy is probably with the opposition rather than ourselves.” The manager believes that his young team need to learn to be mentally tough, to help get them through this challenging time. He said: “Those guys should never stop learning, but they have improved, and they are now in a situation, for the first time in their careers, where they are having a tough time, and it is now for those young fellows to deal with that. “They need myself and the coaching staff to back them up and work to help them improve. “I have got to help them on the training pitch, and on that playing pitch on Saturday to try and get through this. “When they do, they will be all the better for it, but we don’t want it to go on too much longer. “You are not asking people to do something they have not done before. We have all got to deal with it. “This group of players is not a new group to each other. They have done this before, when we bounced back in a strong way, and that is exactly what we have to do again.” And the manager had words of praise for the supporters, who have continued to get behind the team during this difficult period. He said: “The supporters have been terrific, the last home game against Wycombe they were fantastic when they knew we were up against it with ten men. “They stood with us and stayed strong with the team. We have got to stay at it and work through it, and we will then start to push things on. “It is a big learning curve, and it is tough for some but we get it through.” And it will be the same group of players available for tomorrow’s game. He said: “I don’t think Matt Harrold is going to make it this weekend. But if we get him out moving on the grass, which is what we are trying to do with him, it will continue to improve. “Lee Brown tried to get fit for last Saturday, but once he started extending it, the hamstring strain kicked in. “He is going to come out today and try and start building that up, but Saturday will be too soon.”
All you need to know ahead of tomorrow's game The Opposition: Chesterfield approach this fixture on the back of a 2-2 draw at home to York City on Tuesday night, coming back from a two-goal deficit to earn a point at the Proact Stadium. Without a win in five games, Chesterfield are currently second in the League 2 table. Drew Talbot (abdominal) is the only player unavailable for selection for Chesterfield on Saturday John Wardâs Comments: "People will probably look at the fixture and say âthere is a win there for Chesterfield.â But football is not like that, football throws up strange anomalies and strange results every now and again, so it is a game to look forward to. "They have a very experienced group of senior players, and they are only two points off the top of the table, and yet they have had four of five games where they have not been able to win themselves. "This is our home ground, and even with ten men last weekend, we gave a top ten team a tough afternoon, so we are capable of doing that, and that is something I will be pushing in to the team." Opposition View: Manager Paul Cook told the Chesterfield official website: âTheyâre always very strong at home, their crowd get behind them and we know weâve got our hands full. âWeâll have great support at Bristol on Saturday and weâll be playing football, moving the ball quickly and doing all the good things about the game. âIt now hurts us not being top of the league and not winning every week, that just shows how far we've come in such a short space of time. Weâve got to a stage now where the expectancy at our football club has gone through the roof, whoâs created that? Me and the players." Last Meeting: Chesterfield 2-0 Bristol Rovers. Rovers came away empty handed when they visited the ProAct Stadium back in March. The previous encounter at the Mem, saw the Pirates take all three points, thanks to goals from Joe Anyinsah, Tom Eaves and an OG for Sam Togwell in a 3-2 win. Team News: The manager expects to still be without Matt Harrold and Lee Brown, who are still recovering from their groin and hamstring injuries. David Clarkson will miss the game as he serves the second of his three match ban after receiving a red card against Wycombe. Tickets: Fans are being reminded that they have until 5pm on Friday to get their Early Bird tickets for Saturday's League Two fixture against Chesterfield. Supporters can save £2 on normal match day prices by buying their tickets in advance. Tickets are still available from either of the clubs' two retail outlets - Pirate Leisure at the Memorial Stadium and the Supporters Club shop in Kingswood. Live Commentary: Unable to make the trip to the Memorial Stadium tomorrow? Then you can follow all the action from 3pm as Bristol Rovers take on Chesterfield LIVE on Gas Player. For a limited period only you can get 2 months for the price of 1 with Gas Player. With live commentary of every single Rovers game, there's loads of live matches and video content available for just £4.49. Don't miss out, take advantage of this amazing offer now! Get a free month now! Betting: Rovers are 11/5 to take all three points against Chesterfield tomorrow. You can get 7/1 on Ryan Brunt to score the first goal. Bristol Rovers will benefit as you bet throughout the season, so make sure you open your Sky Bet account via www.skybet.com/bristolrovers
Just to be different I have gone for a Rovers win.........well someone has to COR View attachment 27224
Looking at the lineup we only have Santos with any pace. Too cautious again - we're going to get hammered.
Set up not to concede and we haven't so far. Clean sheet is good. But sacrificing our attack and entertainment will put people off going.
If we're all honest we all would of been happy with a point before the game. We got it. We got our 1st shot on target which was at 90mins and 2seconds by Ollie Clarke from out the box according to BBC online.
It's put me off. One shot on target the whole game and that in the last few minutes. Ridiculous. We will be relegated unless we start scoring goals. It's absurd to set up the team to defend at the expense of attack at home. I can't stand to say it but Ward must go. A quarter of the season gone and we 're already in a relegation battle playing dull, soul destroying, tedious football. I don't care about the stigma of sacking manager after manager, we simply must have an antidote to the malaise infecting the team and get them playing for the blue and white quarters. John Ward does not seem to be that antidote. It's all the more disappointing considering his first 5 months in charge. By the sounds of it Chesterfield weren't up to much and could have been dispatched with a bit more attacking intent from us. 82 have finally got their win at the 22nd attempt, so every poor run of form will end eventually, but I fear ours will end with Ward taking us down into non-league oblivion.
A point is a point... But if we going to play defensive every game then there's only one way for us and that is down! Like i have said before, we need to bring in a striker with pace.. if not 2, until then we will play defensive football cos we have no other option! Future until JW brings in strikers will be bleak to say the least..
Disagree BB Ward is the man for keeping us up this season after that he has had all the goodwill the first 25 matches last season have provided. Remember he is not the only coach we have some experience in the ranks and Ward strikes me as a man who takes all opinions in to consideration before deciding on the route tactics formation and players in the starting 11 we should have. It was so important that we did not lose at home today grant you the final third attempts or lack of were woeful however we suceeded in gaining some confidence from playing a top experienced team. I would have played Norburn in the middle to exert sopme control on the ball instead of Ollie and Henshaw on the wing in the second half instead of Richards or Santos other than that we had very little in the locker or on the bench to change the game. Perhaps we needed to show caution after losing to Accrington in the last match a point is better than nothing and something for the coaching staff and team to build upon. COR
Brown should be back next game, so put him to LB. Harrison been poor this season but I would play him as he has pace. Put Henshall at LW and Smith RW, Lockyer RB. Richards and either Brunt or Harrold up front. Mildenhall Lockyer Parkes Packwood Brown Smith Clucas O'Toole Henshall Richard Brunt/Harrold Has pace and shape. Smith has pace and take his man on and can cross. Short term solution to our attacking threat.
I thought Ollie showed (cannot fault his effort) not enough composure on the bal,l ran around in the first half to little effect second half of the second half he was a lot better though. As for Lockyear he is being played wherever to plug the holes always willing defo not a LB though agree with that MOT. Richards was AWOL for most of the match boy does he look disinterested his shoulders slump and in the second half running on empty should have been subbed.
